While I personally would make Atwood's book mandatory for our class, it was presented to us with an alternative: "Jane Eyre," by Charlotte Brontë. Comparably tame in its descriptions, yet still a valuable piece of literature, this should have warded off any concerns. (Sydney Roberts)

In the 19th century, fastidiousness was not only considered normal for men, it was expected.
"Victorian fiction is abundant with examples of fastidious bachelors," the Victorian expert Maeve Adams told me, citing Roger Hamley of "Wives and Daughters," Edward Rochester of "Jane Eyre" and Sherlock Holmes. (Amanda Marcotte)